Washington, 12 September 2026 (Agencies) — The United States has restricted air defense protection for tankers sailing through the Strait of Hormuz to specific time slots daily, the Financial Times reported Saturday. The move comes after Iran stepped up attacks on ships traveling at night.
Washington has been offering air-based defense since May to vessels using a route along the Omani coast on the strait’s southern side. However, beginning in early September, the protection period was reduced to two designated time slots each day, according to emails cited by the FT from the US naval coordination center to maritime advisers.
Meanwhile, US Central Command (CENTCOM) said Friday that its forces had compelled 99 commercial vessels to change course in the Gulf region as part of enforcing the blockade of Iranian ports.
Earlier, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei announced that foreign ministers from Gulf littoral states will meet in Oman on Monday to discuss regional security and designate safe maritime routes in the Strait of Hormuz. He said the meeting will include Iran, Iraq, and other Gulf states, expressing hope it would pave the way for greater regional understanding and joint security.
A day earlier, the US-led Joint Maritime Information Center (JMIC) issued a notice warning that maritime security conditions in the Middle East remain tense, with the threat level in the Strait of Hormuz still rated as “severe.” The advisory cautioned of a high likelihood of attacks on vessels amid the current situation.